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> Pocklington Local History Group
  21st Mar - 18th Century Pocklington

> Pocklington Local History Group
  18th Apr - The AGM and The ER
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  18th Jul - A guided tour of Allerthorpe
  to include Allerthorpe church

> Pocklington Local History Group
  19th Sep - Pocklington's connection
  with the sea

Gallery
Market Place Market Place
Note the new building in the photo on the corner.
Regent Street Regent Street
Note the 'Old Red Lion Hotel'
Chapmangate Chapmangate
Note the independent chapel built in 1807 to the left.
Publications
Woldgate History Woldgate History

"A History of Woldgate School"

* 60 pages
* Fully illustrated
* Only £5.00
epp Exploring Pocklington's Past

* Peter Halkon
* Summary of
Pocklington Archaeology
* Only £5.00
Heritage Trail Heritage Trail

"A Pock History & Heritage Trail"

* 2nd edition
* 27 pages
* Old photos
* Only £4.99

People and Places Thumb Old Pock

"People and Places of Old Pocklington"

* 40 pages
* Old photos
* Only £5.99
Adieu WW1 Book

"Adieu to dear old Pock"

  * ww1 diary
  * 53 profiles
  * Local News
  * 299 soldiers
  * 246 pages
Newsletter

PDLHG Newsletters
#1 Oct 2020
#2 Dec 2020
#3 May 2021

Pocklington Fair
Fairs took place in Pocklington from early mediaeval times. The earliest recorded being a grant made for a four day fair to be held annually for the feast of St. Margaret (July 19-22) in 1245. More fairs were added until by the 17th century there were seven fairs held annually in the town. The infamous highwayman Dick Turpin was known to have attended Pocklington Fair, as it was mentioned in his trial evidence. His real name was John Palmer, a horse dealer who turned to horse stealing and highway robbery. He was hung in York on 7th April 1739.
An old newspaper report in the Yorkshire Herald has an article on Thomas TowleThomas Towle of Pocklington who had recollections of Pocklington going back to the 1870's. In the article he vividly remembers Pocklington Fair. He was brought up by his grandfather Joseph Lister the cab proprietor, he recalled the days when all the local villages had their own feasts and fairs. He tells how they travelled to them all providing penny waggonette rides for the children. The season of fairs ended up with Brigg Fair (Stamford Bridge Fair) each year. He recalled the balmy days of the Pocklington May Fair when horses were shown and sold in George street, beasts in Railway Street near to Wilberforce House, and sheep in another part of town. The Pig Market was in Market Street (Swine Market) near the old Horse Shoe Inn. The Saturday market was a great thing in those days, for Pocklington was the shopping centre for the Wolds. The Market Place and Market Square were packed with traders stalls and carrier carts laden with passengers coming into the town to stay in the many hotels or frequent the large number of Inns serving the fairs and markets. An important fair of the year was the martinmas hirings in November.

Dates for Pocklington Fair (from: Owen's Book of Fairs)
1758
Owens 1758
1780 Owens 1780
1792 Owens 1792
1816 Owens 1816
Goods for sale at the Fair included Cattle, Sheep and Horses, but also Cloth, Leather-Ware, such as boots & shoes, and even Cheese!
Pocklington Fair
Pocklington Fair with Arthur Henry Todd 4th from left at front, to his left is his father George Todd, to his left is John Fred Robson and extreme right is Robert Manners. On the back row far right is Tom Scaife (father of Eric). The band leader is Mr Eastwood of London Street.
(Picture & names courtesy Wm. Brown)
Clown
Fancy Dress was a feature of the fair
Travelling vans
Gypsy Caravans arrived for the Horse Fairs. This rare old photograph was probably taken in West Green or even the Balk area of Pocklington
 

 

If you have any information of Pocklington Fair, or would like to correct any of the above information, then please contact me.